Sanitary appliance.



. PATBNTED MAY 23, 19o5.` J. H. MUGALL. SANITARY APPLlAN'cB. APLIOATION FILED JUNE 13, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

L T... A nu M H. J.

SANITARY APPLIANGB. PPL'IoA'rIoN FILED JUNE 1s. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES 'Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. MCGALL, OF COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE.

SANITARY APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part vof Letters Patent NO. 790,701, dated May 23, 1905. Application filed June 13, 1904. Serial No.212,415.

l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES H. McGALL, a c iti- V zen of the United States, residing at Columbia,

in the county of Maury and State of Tennessee,

4have invented new and useful Improvements vease germs to the soldiers food, both of which are directly traceableto the presenceof campsinks, which while necessary area constant menace to the life and health of the camp. It is well known also that the diseases above mentioned are transmitted to the public in general by infected water and flies from feces in privies vand the like.

It is the primary object, therefore, of my invention to provide an appliance that is simple and which is of such character that after having been used as a privy the contents thereof can be quickly and effectively wholly in- `cinerated in order to eliminate all possibility of the transmission of germs from the excremental substances. By the use of the apparatus the prevention and dissemination of foul unhealthy odors,always present in the vicinity of a camp, are assured.

While the sanitary appliance constituting the subject-matter ofv the present application is adapted, primarily,for use in army camps, it may be otherwise employed with slight modifications within the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification I illustrate clearly one simple arrangement of the appliance,

which will be fully set forth in the following description; but I do not limit myself to the showing thus made, for certain variations may be adopted within the scope of the claims` succeeding such description.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a series of pits and certain parts mounted therein. Fig. 2 is a like view of privy-box, the parts thereof being separated. Fig. 3 is a similar view of excrement-holders. Fig. 4 is a like view of top for flues and stack. Fig. is a longitudinal sectional elevation of complete apparatus. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation of same. Fig. 7 is a detail showing a portion of the privy-box seat.

That organizationembodying my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a chamber or chambers, representing, but not necessarily consisting of, a pit or pits suitably formed in the earth. I have indicated l' and they radiate from a central point, al- Y though their inner ends are separated. The outer ends or entrances of the pits are made wide in order that fuel can be introduced thereinto to bring about the incineration of the contents thereof. The inner ends of the pits 5 are connected by passages 6, shallower than the liues, and which passages intersect each other and serve as flues, for a purpose that will hereinafter appear. These passages are formed in the earth.

Resting on the surface of the earth and covering wholly the crossing passages or iiues 6 is a sheet or plate 7 of metal, to which is detachably connected a vertical stack, as 8. The stack rises centrally from the plate, and its entering end registers with the place of intersection of the two intersecting passages or flues 6. The plate is securely maintained in place by the guy-wires 8 of the stack 8. It

will be understood that the opposite ends of each of these passages or lues open into'or connect withthe inner ends of o ppositelydisposed pits 5. In the opposite walls of each pit or chamber eyebolts, as 9, may be driven, there being four bolts represented in each pit and arranged in horizontally-alined pairs. The eyes of the bolts constitute bearings for the parallel bars 10, extending longitudinally of the respective pits and constituting supports for the plates 11. Two plates are represented in each pit, although this is not essential, for the number may be increased, or one may be employed, if desired or expedient. Upon .the plates 11 fecal matter is deposited, as willy hereinafter appear. It will be understood that the horizontal plates 11 are situated above the bottoms of the respective pits, whereby fuel can be placed under the same. Near the head end of each pit is a basin or receptacle, as 12, intended for the reception of urine. This basin, like the other parts within the pit, is made of metal and of such a one as will best withstand the 'heat generated within the pits during the burning out of the matter within the same. The basins are shown as of substantially reetangular form; but this shape is not material, and their end walls are shown as perforated to receive the eyes of bolts or spikes, as 13, driven into the opposite walls of the several pits about on a line with the bolts or spikes 9.

Extending across the tops of the several pits are bars 14:, situated a suitable distance apart and held lirmly in place in any desirable way. For example, the ends of the bars may be sunk a short distance into the earth. In this way the privy-boxes can rest solidly on the surface of the earth. These bars 14 constitute supports for the bodies 15 ofthe privyboxes, the area of the respective boxes being substantially equal to that of the respective pits. The bodies of the privy-boxes preferably are hinged at their corners in order that they can be readily collapsed for convenience of transportation.

The seats of the privy-boxes are denoted by 16, and they are removably associated with the respective bodies- 15 and have a suitable number of holes vertically alined with the plates 11. Said seats are.A shown as having pendent continuous ianges 16b to closely hug the bodies. The covers 16L for the privyholes are provided with spring-hinges ot' some suitable kind, the springs o1 the hinges serving to automatically close the covers and normally to keep the same positively down and in position to close their cooperating holes, thereby to prevent the entrance of flies into the boxes or the escape of odors through said holes.

The bodies of the privy-boxes are made of some suitable metal, and to their outer end `walls are hingedly and detachably connected the depending plates 17, which when down etfectually close the outer ends of the several pits to prevent flies entering the pits at suoli places and also the escape of odors.

Each privy-box is provided with a urinal, as 18, which is shown as a funnel vertically alined with a basin 12, so that the liquid delivered into a urinal will flow therefrom into the basin'below the same.

When the plates 11 and basin 12, constituting convenient holders for the excremental matter, of any one of the pits are iilled with excremental matter, the latter should be incinerated, and this can be readily and quickly accomplished, without possibility ol spreading germs or the dissemination ot' odors, by building a ire under said plates 11 and basin 12. The incineration of the contents of any one pit can be secured without removal oi the privy-box body 15 from the same. During such incineration I cover the pit with a metallic plate, as 19. Then the plates and urinal-basin of a pit are filled with excremental matter and it becomes necessary to incinerate the latter., the seat 16 of the box is l'irst removed, after which a plate 19 is dropped into the box-body until it falls upon the cross-bars 14, which serve as a convenient support therefor, at which'time it will be apparent that the pit or chamber containing the excrement is wholly inclosed, except, of course, for the ue for the products ot' combustion leading from the inner end thereof. By placing fuel of a suitable quantity into the combustionspace under the plates 11 and basin 12 and igniting the same the contents of the pit will be incinerated. Access may be had to the pit for the charging of the fuel thereinto by litting the hinged door or plate 17. The products of combustion arising from the incineration of the matter in the pit pass therefrom into an offtake or flue 6 and from the latter to the atmosphere by way of the stack or pipe 8. rl`he stack 8, it will be evident, is common to several pits or chambers 5. Then the mass in any pit has been wholly consumed by lire, the plate or top cover 19 for the pit is lifted from 0H' the cross-bars 1-1 and the seat for the privy-box over said pit is put into place, when the privy is ready for use.

The body of each privy is collapsible, and the parts associated therewith are removably mounted in place to facilitate the transportation of the same.

By slight changes the appliance can be adapted thoroughly to domestic purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-` 1. A sanitary appliance involving a combustion-chamber, a collapsible privy-box removably supported above the chamber and provided with means for closing` one end of said chamber,meansindependent of the privyboX for supporting a cover for the chamber, and excrement-catching means in said chamber.

2. A sanitary appliance involving a pit formed in the grou ud and a fecal-holding plate and a urine-receiving basin supported in the IOO pit above the bottom thereof, combined with acover for said pit and a hinged door for closing one end of the pit, the other end thereof having an offtake-ilue.

3. A sanitary appliance` involving a pit formed in tbeground, eyebolts driven into the opposite walls of the pit above the bottom thereof, bars supported by the eyes of said bolts, plates for holding feces,carried by said bars, a urinal receiving-basin, and eyebolts driven into said Walls substantially in line with said plates and constituting a means for supporting said basin.

4. A sanitary appliance involving a pit formed in the ground, and a Hue leading from.

the pit, a plate for covering said iuehaving a stack, means in the pitabove the bottom thereof for holding excremental matter, and a box-like part supported over the pit having a depending hinged door closing one end of said pit. v

5. A sanitary appliance involving a'chamber and an oiftale-iue leading therefrom,both formed in the ground, means above the bottom of the chamber for catching eXcremental matter, a box-like part supported over the chamber provided with a removable top having a privy-hole, and a door for closing said chamber.

6. A sanitary appliance involving a chamber and an offtake-flue leading therefrom,both

formed in the ground, means above the bottom of said chamber for catching eXcremental matter, cross-bars extending across the pit above the excremental catching means, a boxlilie part supported by said bars and provided with a removable top having a privy-hole, said bars serving as a support for a cover for said chamber, and a door for closing said chamber.

7. A sanitary appliance involving a combustion-chamber@ privy-box supported above the chamber and provided With means for closing one end of the chamber and with a removable cover, means independent of the privy-box for supporting a cover for the chamber, and eXcrement-catching means in said chamber.

8. A sanitary appliance involving a com*- bustion-chamber, eXcrement-catching means in said chamber, a privy-box having a removable cover, a door for closing one end of said chamber, and means for supporting the privybox over said chamber and also arranged for supporting a cover for said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES H. MCCALL. Witnesses:

J. E. LITTLEFIELD, OTEY J. PORTER. 

